When it comes to Christmas, Greenwood knows how to do it up.
In addition to the Community Pride Committee's holiday decorations, which went up recently around town, the 10th annual courthouse lighting ceremony and the 73rd annual Roy Martin Delta Band Festival are sure to get residents in the mood for the season this week.
The "Lighting of the Courthouse," which is co-sponsored by Main Street Greenwood and the Leflore County Board of Supervisors, will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday on the front steps of the Leflore County Courthouse.
This event kicks off the holidays in Greenwood each year by turning on Christmas lights at the courthouse and on Keesler Bridge.
"It's a fun, family-friendly way to get the holiday season started," said Lise Foy, director of Main Street Greenwood.
The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will feature opening music from the Greenwood Community Concert Band, and additional entertainment will be provided by the Bankston Spirit, Men of Zion Gospel Singers and Mississippi Valley State University Choir.
Boy Scout Troop 4200 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, the Rev. Glenn Seefeld of First United Methodist Church will lead a prayer, and Moss Melton, a local representative for the American Cancer Society, will give a presentation about the "Love Lights a Tree" program.
In addition, the winners of the "Historic Downtown Greenwood Christmas Decorating and Lighting Contest" will be announced. Awards will be given for "Best Decorations and Lighting" and "Most Creative."
Portraits with Santa also will be available during the event for $5 each.
On Friday, the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce will host one of the town's most highly anticipated annual events, the Roy Martin Delta Band Festival.
"This is for the entire community, and we appreciate the support the community has given … we're doing our best to make it something that will make the community proud," said Beth Stevens, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
The day's festivities will begin at 10 a.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center with performances by Delta State University's Wind Ensemble and Marching Band. Delta State is the featured band for this year's band festival.
"We encourage people to come out and see the featured band," Stevens said.
Delta State's performance will be followed by the annual Percussion Explosion high school drumline competition, which will feature performances by the winners of last year's drumline competition and parade judging.
About 17 bands will attend this year's festival, including high school and college bands from across the state and from Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.
In addition to the Delta State band, some other highlights this year will be a new band coming from Memphis and the return of the East Jefferson High School Band from Metairie, La., which has been a crowd favorite since their appearance following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"It was a wonderful thing because the community really stepped up and supported them," Stevens said.
At 1 p.m. Friday, the "Beauties Reception" will be held at the home of Stephen and Ashley Farmer at 401 Grand Blvd.
All local junior high and high school girls are invited to come and meet special guests Miss Mississippi Christine Kozlowski of D'Iberville and Mississippi Miss Hospitality Tori Ferguson of Starkville. Both ladies were crowned earlier this year in their respective pageants.
The reception is free, and refreshments will be provided.
The Roy Martin Delta Band Festival will continue at 3 p.m. with the annual Christmas parade, which will feature performances by all of the visiting marching bands, as well as floats built by various local businesses.
The theme of this year's parade is "The 12 Days of Christmas," and all 12 days will be represented by at least one float in the parade, according to Stevens. She also said a new addition this year will be some permanent floats for the parade.
"Floats are being built by several entities around town that will be in the parade every year in the future," Stevens said.
The parade will begin on the corner of Carrollton and Walthall streets, turn right on Howard Street, turn left on Market Street, turn right on Fulton Street and then proceed down Grand Boulevard to Park Avenue.
This year's parade marshalls are Dr. Arthur Kinnard Jr. and Martha Geeslin.
Following the parade, the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau will sponsor a fireworks show over the Yazoo River.
Parade participants who have not yet signed up are asked to get their entries in on Monday.
For more information on the courthouse lighting ceremony, call Main Street Greenwood at 453-7625 or visit www.mainstreetgreenwood.com.
For more information on the band festival and parade, call the Chamber of Commerce at 453-4152 or visit www.greenwoodms.com.
